No time for anything except.... Family and Friends

Our weekend was busy, but was wonderful.
Friday night started off with dinner at our friends house.  The kids played, the adults conversed it was a great relaxing evening.

Saturday was state tournament day for Sassy.  They lost their first game.  Won their second game and lost their third.  The game they won was a great game.  Their defense was on, their bats were swinging.  All systems were a go!  The game was tied, and they won by stealing home.  Sassy had great hits all day long and made some awesome plays.

After the tournament, we headed to a friends (parent's of one of Sassy's teammates) house for a impromptu team get together.  Another fun night, conversation, cocktails, laughs and a couple intense games of shuffleboard ;)

Sunday, off to a gorgeous lake home.  Many of the girls from Sassy's softball team were there as well as their families.  We dove right into fun and relaxation.

 It was a beautiful day spent on the lake.

Needless to say, after such a fun/busy weekend (including sleepovers for both Sassy and Action) the kids were wiped out :)

Action's baseball season and Sassy's softball season have come to an end.  This means we have a few weeks of nothing (nothing scheduled anyway).  No rushing here or there in the evenings and weekends.  I am looking forward to relaxing evenings, long family bike rides and whatever else comes up.

An Evening Walk

Typically Sassy and Action play softball and baseball on the same evenings.  Meaning, Smiley, Action and I head one way to baseball to watch Action play a game or have a practice.  While Hubby and Sassy head a different direction to a softball game or practice.  But since their seasons are winding down ~ and end of the season tournaments are upon us, our schedules have changed a bit.  
Sassy actually had last night off.  So, Hubby took Action to his baseball practice.  It was nice to just hang out with the girls :)  We went on a nice walk and just relaxed. It was a beautiful night!

 Some little girl decided to play in her room instead of taking her nap and was a bit grouchy (perhaps that is an understatement!)  There was no way she was going to join us for picture #1, but changed her mind and joined us for #2 (I think I even see a hint of a smile).  So glad she did :)

Impromptu

I am working on creating a gift for some family members.  Last week I piled the kids in the car and we headed to Ikea to get  picture frame that I had seen there before.  We drove 35 minutes, arrived, Action and Smiley checked in to the daycare.  Sassy and I had 45 minutes to shop without "help".  We had fun wandering around the store, unfortunately they didn't have the frame I was in search of.   We ended up purchasing one of each of these:

CHOSIGT Ice pop maker ~ $1.99

Side note ~ we've since made these "pudding pops"  that I pinned on Pinterest

(original website here)

so easy ~ milk, cool whip and chocolate instant pudding ~ mix and freeze

the kids.... (hubby and I included) loved them!

cold, creamy, chocolatey.....

Back to the story:

Since Ikea was a bit of a bust, and we were 35 minutes from home, I decided to have an impromptu healthy Burger King picnic at one of our favorite places.  The falls.  The weather was perfect, sunny, warm, yet not hot.  We had a delightful, unplanned afternoon!  And perhaps you'll notice, this was a couple of days before Action took on a new look :)

(helping "baby bird" finish her lunch)

After Burger King and walking around a bit, we decided to get some ice cream :)  Here they are enjoying their treats.

It was a perfectly unplanned day
A day full of beauty and unexpected surprises.

Like finding a heart in the bottom of your ice cream cone.

Down Time

We have been busy ~ softball or baseball every day or night for 10 days.  Sassy had a tournament last weekend and played 6 games ~ They were in the championship game when the rain started.  We're not talking a light shower.  I'm talking rain.  Thunder.  Lightening. Downpour.  It stopped after 15-20 mins, but the fields were a MESS!  The tournament director ended up calling the game in the middle of the 4th inning (they play 6 innings).  Unfortunately when they do that, they take the score of the previously finished inning which was 2-3, in favor of the other team. Second place was bittersweet for the girls.  They were playing so well.

This week, we've all been attending Vacation Bible School (VBS).  Sassy is in charge of a group of 5 preschoolers along with another girl, Action is participating, Smiley is unhappily attending the church daycare, and I am in charge of elementary games meaning I get to organize and "play" with 200 elementary kids on a daily basis.  It's fun, but can get a bit tiring.

After VBS, we rush home, eat a quick lunch and I get Sassy and Action to the local senior high for volleyball camp.  Both kids are loving it!  But, by the time they are done with that and either baseball or softball in the evening they are ready for bed and quite honestly so.am.I.

Tonight though, Action's baseball game was cancelled due to weather.  The kids went to bed almost on time and Hubby is away getting ready to participate in a golf tournament tomorrow.  The house is quiet.  And here I sit relaxing

with a glass of wine :)

A weekend of Softball and Relaxation

We had a fantastic weekend!  Saturday started off early ~ 6am.  Sassy had a day long softball tournament about an hour away so we woke up some sleepy kiddos, ate some breakfast and headed out.  Her coach, who is also her Dad :)  has the team arrive about an hour early for warm ups.  Anyway, I knew it was going to be a long day out in the sun, so while they were doing their pre-game warm ups before the first game Action, Smiley and I hung out in the car, reading and playing with the iPad.

Then we were onto the games ~ they ended up playing 4 games and going 2-2.  The girls played really well. Sassy mostly played in the catcher positon, but also played 3rd, left field and had a couple of innings as pitcher.  She did really well, striking out a handful of girls.

(getting a pep talk from Dad/Coach after a tough inning 

this is probably my favorite picture of the weekend!)

Yesterday, Mother's day, we went to church, took the boat out, hit a lakeside restaurant for Bloody Mary's and appetizers, came home and relaxed.  It was a beautiful, relaxing day spent together as a family!

How was your weekend?

Hit by a Semi?

What a cliffhanger, huh?

Wondering what I'm talking about?  Well, if you read my last post, you'll know that my family and I were traveling when all of a sudden, I pointed out that there was a semi coming straight at us!

Fine....

You got me, we are all safe and sound as this semi was being towed away!  

But I did get some shock and awe out of the kids :)

Which was pretty funny ~ HA!

Anyway,  once we got to our destination, we checked into our hotel, called up my brother and headed to the pool.  Nothing fancy, but fun non the less!

Then we were off to do some mini-golf with my parents and my brother.

We attempted to keep score.  Not so sure any of us care to know what the final numbers were.  We do know we had a lot of fun!

Day 2 ~ off to the Zoo:

Action was very happy to have his Uncle and Grandpa around to swing him.

Of course there were 

Lions.....

And Tigers....

and Bears.....

ok, so I didn't get pictures of any bears, but I did get a picture of some alligators:

And a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure (or for our family to see if you're not interested)

Zoo

Cheesecake Factory

Swimming 

Bed

Another Fabulous Day

Unfortunately Sunday we had to head home.  

Another LONG day in the car. 

Monday.....

LAKE DAY!  Come back later to see the fun that ensued.